The Arizona Cardinals were not considered strong contenders before the season commenced. Many predicted they would finish among the lowest-ranked teams, potentially vying for a top quarterback pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Despite these projections, Arizona has made an impressive start to the season. The team achieved a notable 26-14 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. This game marked head coach Mike LaFleur’s debut.
The Chargers, who advanced to the AFC Wild-Card Round last year, are seen as playoff prospects again this season. Nevertheless, the Cardinals managed to secure a win on the road.
LaFleur became the first head coach since Don Coryell in 1973 to win his debut with the Cardinals. Since Coryell’s time, 13 subsequent head coaches have lost their debut games with the team.
“By leading Arizona to a 26-14 upset over the Chargers, Mike LaFleur became the first Cardinals full-time coach to win his debut since Don Coryell in 1973,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Following the victory, LaFleur addressed his team’s focus. “Again, what’s been said, it doesn’t matter,” he stated. “We don’t care. And I hope we continue to feel that way. Like I just told them, the humility is a day away in this league, so we got to reset and get right back to work tomorrow. But I’m happy for those guys,” he added, emphasizing the need to maintain momentum.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals face a challenging game in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, last season’s Super Bowl champions. The Seahawks are missing their starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, but backup Drew Lock led the team to a narrow 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 1.
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